Alzheimer book sale here dubbed most successful yet

The local Alzheimer Society’s annual book sale last Thursday through Saturday at Revco Carpet here raised $1,860—proving to be the best of any held yet in either the Kenora and Rainy River districts.
The popular event saw no shortage of books donated by local readers, said Alzheimer Society executive director Margaret Schonewille, adding Revco staff and volunteer Anna McNay, who picked up donated books for shut-ins, should be thanked for their help.
Schonewille added while she initially was concerned she wouldn’t be able to get rid of all the books donated to the sale (and thus worried she would have to find a place to store them until next year), the majority of them ended up finding a new home by Saturday afternoon.
She only had about six boxes of books left, which she took back to Kenora. These will be sold during the Alzheimer Society’s book sale in Dryden next month.
After a series of fundraisers here over the past two months, the Alzheimer Society won’t be back in Rainy River District until May, when its sixth-annual “Walk for Memories” will be held.
The walk is slated for May 24 in Rainy River and then May 25 here in Fort Frances.
Locally, the walk will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Super 8 Motel, with participants then heading over to Fort Frances High School to walk around the track there.
Ice cream will be served afterwards.
Open to everyone, participants are encouraged to collect pledges and then walk, run, bike, in-line skate, skateboard, or ride in their wheelchair or stroller.
Pledge forms will be mailed out to past participants in early April. For those who haven’t walked before, pledge forms also will be available at various locations around town closer to the date of the walk.
“They can always call me if they want to start early. I can give them a sheet and they can start early if they want to,” noted Schonewille, adding May will arrive sooner than some may think.
If you have any questions about the “Walk for Memories,” want a pledge sheet, or want to volunteer at the event, call the Alzheimer Society at 1-800-682-0245.
Last year’s walk here, which drew about 20 participants, raised more than $3,400 for the Alzheimer Society.
In related news, Schonewille again is inviting more district residents to submit a photograph for use in the Alzheimer Society’s “cash calendar,” adding only one person from Rainy River District has contacted her so far.
“I’m sure there’s a number of other photographers that would like to see if we could put one of their pictures in our calendar,” said Schonewille.
Images should reflect the people, life, and landscape of the Kenora/Rainy River districts. Call 1-800-682-0245 to receive your entry form.